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Topic: Is LIVE music what it used to be? |
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 9:43 am |
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In a post in another topic in the forum; "What are you doing New Years Eve? a forumite writes, "This year.....I can't even find a musical job to play within 150 miles of Portland. Bottom line this year is "ZERO". Be happy you guys have a place to play. You're a lucky crowd!"
This has got me to wondering about the current state of live music, since in the last two years I tried returning to music full-time in the Las Vegas area and found it to be "quite different" than it was 20 years ago. I thought it was just Vegas but on a trip to the Pacific Northwest (where I began my music career) and visiting some friends in various cities I found that there's not as much live music there either... In Salem, Oregon, where I played 5 nights a week to a pack house every night, the club no longer exists. I asked around where I could find a live band, the answer I got was "Nowhere". My cousin in Milwaukee, Oregon says it's pretty dead around there too (as evidenced by the above New Years' post). Several years ago in Las Vegas, the AFM had the bright idea of going on strike, they called all the musicians off the shows. I guess they thought, "what'll these big showrooms do with no musicians, heh heh!" They played backup tapes and apparantly no one cared. My question to the Forum is: Have you noticed a slump in live music, and what do you think caused it?
Jim Phelps http://jimphelps.com |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 10:40 am
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It's pretty much the same all over. There are some pockets (areas) where the scene is still pretty good. But generally it sucks.
One of the things that has hurt is the states drunk driving programs. Many stay away so they don't have any hassles and that has cause a lot of clubs to close or downsize and cut out the band.
Karaoke and DJ's are also to blame for the live band jobs not being there - all venues of music not just country.
I used to live in Kansas City, Mo and at one time I was getting calls for 5 and 6 night a week gigs. I don't think there's one of them in KC anymore. After I retired I moved to the Tampa, Fl area. The biggest gigs down here are 1 or 2 man band gigs - about all the places will pay for and they either want 40's type music or a Jimmy Buffet clone. There are some others and pockets of live music but they are few and far between. |
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Sunny Callen
From:
Las Vegas NV USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 11:02 am
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| Jim and Jack are both accurate - and its a shame. . . . |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 11:18 am
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Gee according to some on the Forum new Country is creating all types of new Jobs.One guy even makes 500.00 per gig.Surely things got to be looking up. 
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CJC
[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 26 December 2001 at 05:45 AM.] |
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Peter Dollard
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 11:53 am
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| The country music scene has been more or less wiped out in Sacramento. I think there are really three factors;age,alcohol,and aids. The draconian penalties for even having one or two beers in two hours have made many people reluctant to even chance getting a ticket. Let's face it you do not act the same way you used to. Home becomes more attractive and who wants to chance getting a ticket. Sadly there are still people who chance the casual encounter but there numbers have dwindled. A single person is less likely to stay at a bar and risk not only a DUI but a fatal disease. In the early eighties people could party and pursue with no consequenses and those days are gone forever. |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 12:22 pm
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| Peter, I get your point and I agree but about "In the early eighties people could party and pursue with no consequenses...." I wouldn't exactly say NO consequences! |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 12:28 pm
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| Just joking, y'know...I bet we all have stories to tell about some of those "consequences", I know I do, but I'm not tellin..... |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 2:53 pm
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Yep! Live music is down. When I go to a different city, and ask about live music, and the people can't name one place that has anything outside of "rock", it's bad!
Overheard at the Welfare Department...
"If you ever want to know something about 'unemployment', the LAST person you ask is someone with a steady job!"
Makes sense to me!  |
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Larry Miller
From:
Dothan AL,USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 4:46 pm
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Hey Donny, would the first person you ask be a musician?  |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 6:44 pm
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| Nope! Ask some pretty young ladies. They can find a musician...even when his wife can't! (LOL!) |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Dec 2001 9:53 pm
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| I am fortunate to be working in an 80% traditional band and we have plenty of work in this area. However, I played on a CD for a rock band called "Vapor" that just signed with Capitol in LA. They want me to do the first tour. If I was A little younger I might go for it. If they keep insisting, and the money is right, I may do it anyway. What I am getting at is, if you want to work regular, you have to "roll with the flow" whether you like it or not. Always remember, "The man who pays the bills makes the rules". Best regards Jody. [This message was edited by Jody Sanders on 27 December 2001 at 03:12 PM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 25 Dec 2001 5:49 am
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| ....how true Jody..... |
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Richard Bass
From:
Sabang Beach, Philippines
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Posted 25 Dec 2001 7:04 am
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Live music in Nashville is about the same as it was 30 years ago, INCLUDING THE PAY RATE!!!!
Richard |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 25 Dec 2001 11:49 am
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Nope 
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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler
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Ernie Renn
From:
Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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Posted 25 Dec 2001 10:43 pm
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IMHO: Karoake and line dancing have added immeaurably to the decline in decent gigs.
Karoake: Where there's no live band and Jane Drunk and Joe Drunker are the headliners on the show.
Line dancing: Aerobics in cowboy clothes. Plain and simple.
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My best,
Ernie
The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 26 Dec 2001 3:52 am
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Ok, my pennies worth, I'm with RAYMAN on this one, not to say that all the other responses and points are not valid. I have just returned to Steel after a long lay-off and have recently met and become invloved with some local players who play here in the Charlotte area regularly. Every night?, no, 4 or 5 nights ?, no, but they do play often. My friend Joe Smith ( great player as well ) just sent me a list of clubs he is working in the Charlote area and he is very busy right up thru the end of January . I think that the decline in traditional music in any area could be as much a bands fault as anyones. A talented musician who shows up not looking like or playing like he belongs in a band , any band , is a detriment. If a tradtional band doesn't play traditional tunes then they will not last long and the venue won't either. I have always been of the opinion that the band has a responsiblilty to the club ( house ) to assist in earning $$$. It's not a one sided deal. As we all know ,a good band with a good draw will bring folks back and probably add new folks. A bad band, any band, will send em' running. Even a bad band with great players ! If a band plays Release Me, It should sound like Release Me and the folks listening and dancing should be convinced it is Release Me, not a new Age Hi Tech lick filled star studded version. I went to an open jam last weekend and was rather suprised that several folks from several different bands showed up and sat in and sang and played a whole bunch of classics. These are folks who's bands are working fairly often in the area. I just don't know where !! ( yet) The band I have been invited to practice with did a dance last week and they told me it was packed, full house. They are doing another dance this week as well. So the folks( attendees if you will ) are out there, maybe not 5 nights a week, but I believe the market and demand for traditional Country music never died, it may have faded for the local bandstands, but the folks who still want to hear and dance to Country music are still out there. So I would say, if we get a gig playing traditional Country music, we should play traditional Country music. My little opinion is that gigs where folks come to listen and dance has always been about the songs first , not how great the band or players are. A great band just makes the songs better.
Glad to be back..
Hope I play in tune !
TP[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 December 2001 at 03:57 AM.] |
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John Lacey
From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 26 Dec 2001 4:48 am
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| I do a jam every Saturday and Sunday afternoons at a local bar in my small town and we pack the joint. We have a trio, steel, 12 string and bass and our front lady has personality to spare. We let EVERBODY up to jam, even the terrible ones and people come from 60 km. away to check it out. I think that in this era a band has to sell it with personality, entertainment, whatever you want to call it. Just getting up and playing with no connection with the crowd won't make it anymore. |
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Mike Dennis
From:
Stevens Point WI.
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 5:10 am
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| "Everybody wants to dance, but nobody wants to pay the fiddler" |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 9:16 am
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Myron ;I would really be impressed if you play them all at the same time. Heck if you could sing, play Bass and drums, you could be a one man band. Gotcha ole buddy 
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CJC
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 12:13 pm
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Is LIVE music what it used to be? Well, here in Nashville it's great! Any given night you can hear all kinds of music. I guess it depends on where you live.
Theresa |
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Earl Erb
From:
Old Hickory Tenn
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 2:34 pm
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| Then how come I can't get a job? I guess I'm livin' on the wrong side of Davidson County. [This message was edited by Earl Erb on 27 December 2001 at 02:36 PM.] |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 2:40 pm
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Maybe you don't go out to all the right places Earl. We got plenty of work down here in Fla if you like to pick...Oranges.
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CJC
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 2:48 pm
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| Earl, Is LIVe music what it used to be? I believe Nashville has a great venue for music. Theresa |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 3:33 pm
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Myron,
I live in Nashville. I know back when the players played for $25.00 a night. Today they make more than that. Anyway, you can hear great music on lower broad or in other clubs if you look in Nashville! Theresa |
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Earl Erb
From:
Old Hickory Tenn
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Posted 27 Dec 2001 8:41 pm
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Oh Boy! Lets say pickers make $50.00 a night,5 nights a week...and thats a stretch.I don't think $250.00 a week,$13,000 a year is anything to write home about.Last time I checked a person working at Wal Mart can make a better living.That might be ok for a young player starting out,but for somebody with a family and a mortgage,I would have to hit the welfare office for a supplement in income.
Your right about one thing Theresa,there are some great players working the joints in Nashville,but at what cost? I have been told by a well known steel player,who played for tips on lower broad,that there were many nights when he would go home with $20.00 in his pocket after a 4 hr gig. Not only is that degrading its down right immoral.
Richard Bass hit the nail on the head,the pay scale has kept up with the poverty level. |
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